Phew... I still remember the first time I went in to the locker room in the old men's gym at college. A 100 y/o wooden building that apparently absorbed every smell ever emitted within. It was so ripe I stopped and went back out for a minute. People didn't carry gym bags back then - all the sweaty gear was in the lockers. And it was school-issued, so there were big hampers of dirty stuff waiting for the laundry.

BTW, right outside the locker room entrance is/was a small bronze anatomically-correct statue of a naked boy putting on his running shoes. We always figured that it meant that "streaking" was popular back in the previous century too!

Favorite: The smell of fresh, clean balls.... I mean the exercise balls. I love the smell of that rubbery vinyl smell.

Least Favorite: Actually, one of the most offensive smells that I've ever smelt. I walked by this older gay guy wearing a pair of way too short shorts and a super tight, gay tank top. As I walked by the smell permeated the air, and I literally started to choke. My nose actually stung and felt burnt when I smelled his foul B.O. I can't even describe it in words, but whatever it was, it literally made my eyes water and my nose burn.

I can't believe that there are guys that are actually into that horrid smell, so much so that they parade around in the gym like skunks thinking that they'll attract mates. Who the fuck would sleep with someone that made your eyes water? Nasty ass bitches!

The smell of the Safeway rotisserie chickens wafting into the gym right about at the end of my Sunday workout. Mmmmmmm!

The smell of some nasty ass hipster who is detoxing on the stairmaster from a night of binge drinking. Ugh!!!!

What are your favorite / unfavorite smells at the gym?

whenever somebody drops a stink bomb. that's what happened on wednesday. someone did it and the whole fucking gym STANK.

that and the bathroom. oh lawd. there's nothing worse than walking into the bathroom and smelling a strong aroma of shit because the damn bathroom stalls are RIGHT at the entrance of the locker room. it's NOT fair. they can't have air fresheners on deck in the gym. don't they have the automatics ones that just spray as soon as the smell of shit is all over the room.

I absolutely hate the smell of the cologne that the club manager wears. When I am swimming laps I can always smell when he walks through the pool area - I can't breathe properly and I feel like I'm going to drown. It's the worst cologne I ever smelled and he wears far too much of it.

Never buy your cologne at the dollar store. Better yet, never wear cologne in a gym where people are trying to work out.

Whoever designed the 24 Hour Fitness where I go screwed up. No exhaust fans in the toilet area. That is where the air should be sucked out.

If I'm out swimming in the pool, scent from nasty crappy perfumed shampoos and soaps from the showers comes out and hits you hard, contaminating the air your breathing---as if the chlorine wasn't bad enough.

I do appreciate when someone dumps out essential oils in the sauna or steam room. I've smelled some super nasty crap though coming off of toxic guys after their workouts. Yuck!

There are men who smell good, but rarely do I find them within nose shot at the gym

He_Man saidFavorite: The smell of fresh, clean balls.... I mean the exercise balls. I love the smell of that rubbery vinyl smell.

Least Favorite: Actually, one of the most offensive smells that I've ever smelt. I walked by this older gay guy wearing a pair of way too short shorts and a super tight, gay tank top. As I walked by the smell permeated the air, and I literally started to choke. My nose actually stung and felt burnt when I smelled his foul B.O. I can't even describe it in words, but whatever it was, it literally made my eyes water and my nose burn.

I can't believe that there are guys that are actually into that horrid smell, so much so that they parade around in the gym like skunks thinking that they'll attract mates. Who the fuck would sleep with someone that made your eyes water? Nasty ass bitches!

This story literally made me LOL because I've walked past someone at the gym with the same offense B.O. that you've described. Makes you want to gag and barf.

mindgarden saidBTW, right outside the locker room entrance is/was a small bronze anatomically-correct statue of a naked boy putting on his running shoes. We always figured that it meant that "streaking" was popular back in the previous century too!

Penn State? hehe

Chlorine stings the eyes and nose, but the faint smell of it in the pool locker room takes me back before I knew enough to check out the dudes in Speedos- haha.. But yeah, a pool locker room now always excites me as it reminds me of the water polo team changing in college..good memories!